What is Pilates ?
Fitness
In the 1920s, physical trainer Joseph Pilates introduced Pilates into America as a way to help injured athletes and dancers safely return to exercise and maintain their fitness. Since then, Pilates has been adapted to suit people in the general community.
Pilates can be an aerobic and non-aerobic form of exercise. It requires concentration and focus, because you move your body through precise ranges of motion. Pilates lengthens and stretches all the major muscle groups in your body in a balanced fashion. It requires concentration in finding a center point to control your body through movement. Each exercise has a prescribed placement, rhythm and breathing pattern.
In Pilates, your muscles are never worked to exhaustion, so there is no sweating or straining, just intense concentration. The workout consists of a variety of exercise sequences that are performed in low repetitions focusing on quality over quantity.
The Pilates method is taught to suit each person and exercises are regularly re-evaluated to ensure they are appropriate for that person. Due to the individual attention, this method can suit everybody from elite athletes to people with limited mobility, pregnant women and people with low fitness levels.
The health benefits of Pilates:
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improved flexibility
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increased muscle strength and tone, particularly of your abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks (the ‘core muscles’ of your body)
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balanced muscular strength on both sides of your body
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enhanced muscular control of your back and limbs
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improved stabilisation of your spine
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improved posture
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rehabilitation or prevention of injuries related to muscle imbalances
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improved physical coordination and balance
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relaxation of your shoulders, neck and upper back
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safe rehabilitation of joint and spinal injuries
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prevention of musculoskeletal injuries
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increased lung capacity and circulation through deep breathing
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improved concentration
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increased body awareness
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stress management and relaxation.
